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The Illinois Elections Board maintained that the federal government’s request exceeds its legal authority. They highlighted that federal law does not give the DOJ the authority to demand state records that contain Social Security numbers or other sensitive personal information without proper legal process. Moreover, they expressed concerns about privacy, referencing the Privacy Act of 1974, which prohibits unauthorized disclosures of personal data.
The Illinois officials also pointed out that they have not received adequate assurances from the DOJ regarding the handling and privacy of the requested sensitive data, adding to their reluctance to comply.